On Seeing Greenfinches

On the beach near where the Hopkins to the ocean crawl on this afternoon in May Bright sunshine in a sky of blue on this lovely Autumn day A small flock of greenfinches fed on scattered seed by the trees on the foreshore Their kin birds I saw years ago in the woods of Claramore. Just seeing the green birds took me to places far away When the meadows scented sweetly with the scent of Summer hay Far north of here as I remember they too gathered in small flocks in late Fall Their twittering songs I do remember and their habits I do recall. I remember in May in their northern breeding Season the male birds took to wing And fluttering like butterflies above their territories did sing Perhaps 'twas their courtship display and proclaiming territory A thing of natural beauty for to live in memory. Near where the Hopkins River to the Pacific slowly flow A small flock of greenfinches I did see took me to the long ago When I was younger and fitter and in my manhood's prime And that was many Summer's ago and many years in time.